Congratulations on Your Retirement, Nurse Pam :: You Truly Are One in a Million

Dear Nurse Pam,

March for Babies, March 2013

Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement! You have spent countless years working in the NICU, and have touched so many lives. My family is lucky to be one of them.

Having your baby born weeks and/or months early is beyond terrifying. I remember being rolled into the NICU unit and feeling hopeless, defeated, and most of all scared. While I was being told the instructions on how to properly scrub in and see my son for the first time, I was introduced to you.

Pam, you have a nurturing and calming quality that words cannot describe. Upon meeting you, I felt a sense of ease come over me. You were so kind and were the best nurse to introduce to the NICU world.

Over Liam’s 101 day stay, I have countless memories of the excellent care you gave Liam and also, myself. It takes a special kind of person to be a nurse but you are truly one in a million.

When Halloween came, you took pictures of my little 1 pound preemie in a pumpkin pail. For Thanksgiving, precious footprints turned into turkeys were made for me by Liam’s bedside. And when Christmas came, you turned what could have been a Blue Christmas into a magical time in the unit. You brought in costumes and we dressed Liam up as a snowman and Santa Clause. These are all the little things that made happy memories during those scary times.

And I will never forget how special you made Liam’s older brother feel. Noah was only 3 and wasn’t allowed in the unit, but you would send home Liam’s teeny tiny diapers, the smallest BP cuff we’ve ever seen and the very small “sunglasses” Liam had to wear when he had jaundice. Also, when it was Christmas time, you sent home some ornaments for Noah to make that we hung on Liam’s isolette. You are simply the BEST, Pam!

I have to mention Liam’s “Pound Party.” Liam was born at only 15oz and we kept waiting for him to reach 3lbs. You said when he reached that goal, we would have a pound party with pound cake. As luck would have it, Liam hit 3 lbs on a day when you weren’t working. But wait, when I walked into the unit that day; there were 3-pound cakes by Liam’s isolette. You came in on your day off to mark the special occasion. I was holding back tears and felt so loved.

Pam, you also took our first photo as a family of 4! When Liam was moved across the unit, one of the rooms had a window that could be seen from the hallway. This was the first time Noah was able to “see” Liam. It was such a touching thing you did for my little family. It still remains one of my favorite pictures.

Pam and Liam, Delivering care packages for Delivering Hope NOLA.

Besides the excellent care we received when we were inpatient, you have also been a positive light in the years after. When fellow NICU moms and I began the non profit Delivering Hope NOLA, you were one of our biggest supporters! You have helped us give out care packages, participated in fundraisers and have been a great asset to our non profit.

My family is forever grateful to you and we wish you a relaxing retirement.

With Love,

Mary

Mary Olivio
Mary is a caffeine addicted boy mom to Noah, Liam and Luke. This “stay at home” mom can typically been found cruising in her minivan, jamming to Beyonce with a Starbucks in hand on her way to carpool or after school activities. Mary has been married to her high school sweetheart since 2007. She is a founder of Delivering Hope NOLA and the Vanessa Wolff Scholarship Fund at her Alma Mater. Mary is passionate in the local preemie community and has been heavily involved with the March of Dimes since her sons Liam and Luke were born premature.

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